Friday, October 23, 2009

Why Scripps was at our place

Knoxville, Tennessee, is the home of Scripps Networks. Of course it is most economical to stay locally for locations. A couple of years ago an e-mail was sent out seeking downtown condo dwellings. We apparently had a look they could use with exposed brick and high ceilings as they decided to make an image portfolio of our home. Months went by after they did that initial set of photographs, and then last fall they did a Garnier skin treatment commercial here. I wish I had the right equipment to load it on this blog.

The most recent shoot was for a pilot, so I doubt it will be on tv.

Last year my husband was on for about 30 seconds as "the architect friend being consulted" on a DIY episode (for which he was not paid). The stories are run numerous times, and once in a while a long-distance relative or friend will let us know that they saw him.

There is significant short-term sacrifice to having a 20+ crew take over your home-sweet-home, particularly for my husband who now works from our home. Some years ago I was in a piece (I was the aging-issues expert for an info-mercial) that was filmed in a very traditional home. With just a few decorative changes the house could be transformed, so the owners had a lot of work. The owners even got compensated one time with a new gas cooktop. The production companies were filming many kitchen scenes and they wanted a newer look. Yet her teenagers looked restrained in their moving around the house while I was there. Their home was not their own while the crews were on site, and they knew it. It was summer break and they tip-toed into the kitchen and slipped out with their breakfast, to take it back to their bedrooms. No sitting at the kitchen table perusing the morning paper and watching tv!

Inconveniences for which we do get paid.

Some years ago there was a company here called Whittle Communications that printed a lot of ad-type literature. Like Scripps needs homes, they needed people. Our two-year old appeared in a Crest Toothpaste brochure to be displayed at dentists' offices. That was work, too. It was three hours of getting made up (my baby had on mascara and foundation to even her skin tone out!), choosing the right clothes and shooting numerous angles. She got tired and was very confused with much of the goings-on. We never even tried to do another one.

But Scripps, my husband and I are always willing. I hope they call again.